Can I Laugh On Your Shoulder?

Well friends, today's episode is going to be a bit different! After nine years of weekly episodes, I've made the decision to take a break from the show for a little bit. This isn't something I've taken lightly- it's something I've been praying about, wrestling with, and reflecting on for months. And while it's hard to hit pause on something I love so much, I know it's the right time. With my daugh...

I'm thrilled to welcome back my friend, Whitney English, to the show today! She is an author, artist, and self-proclaimed reluctant expert in surviving family drama with grace... and a glue gun. Whitney is known for telling the truth with humor, finding beauty in the mess, and believing that good stories and good design can heal just about anything- whether she's organizing a junk drawer or untang...

I'm thrilled to welcome Niki Hardy to the show this week! Niki is the author of the Audie Award-nominated Breathe Again and One Minute Prayers for Women With Cancer. Her newest book, God, Can We Chat? A Daringly Honest Guide to Growing Closer to God, One Doubt at a Time, hit shelves in March, which I'm so excited to chat about today.  Niki has left corporate life, moved continents, gone to seminar...

You are in for an absolute treat this week! My guest is the one and only Melissa Radke- bestselling author, speaker, TV personality, comedian, and the self-proclaimed HGIC (Head Girlfriend in Charge). With over 1.1 million followers, Melissa has been lifting women up since 2016, dishing out everything from hair tips to life advice with her signature humor and heart. Her brand-new book, Chicken Fri...

This week on the podcast, I'm joined once again by the brilliant Dr. Morgan Cutlip- author, psychologist, and relationship expert. She is known for equipping individuals and couples with practical, down-to-earth tools to navigate the most challenging parts of relationships. She has a true gift for turning psychological research into relatable, real-life strategies, and she shares her wisdom throug...

This week, I am so excited to be joined by the incredible Lauren Sisler. She is an Emmy Award-winning sports broadcaster, ESPN sideline reporter, author, keynote speaker, and the queen of the sideline shimmy. After landing her dream career with ESPN and reporting on college football and gymnastics, she began to open up about a story she once kept hidden: losing both of her parents to opioid addict...

I'm thrilled to welcome back my dear friend Mary Marantz for her third appearance on the show! If you've been here a while, you already know how incredible Mary is- she's a powerhouse in every sense of the word. As a podcaster, author, speaker, photographer, and coach, she truly does it all. Today, we're diving into her latest book, Underestimated, which releases later this month. We're talking ab...

It's been one whole year since If I Don't Laugh, I'll Cry made its way into the world, and today, we're celebrating! In this special anniversary episode, I'm reflecting on the journey of writing and releasing this book- what it was like to put my story on paper, the emotional highs and lows, and the incredible messages from readers that have reminded me why I wrote it in the first place. Whether y...

This week, I'm thrilled to welcome the most special guest ever on my show- my dad. With the release of my book just around the corner (coming out next week- can you believe it?!) I couldn't think of a better time to have him on the podcast. Together, we dig into some of the stories that are (and aren't) talked about in my book.   Join us as we laugh, reminisce, and share stories of the joys, the c...

I'm under the weather this week, so I'm sharing one of my favorite episodes!   This week, I'm excited to welcome Ginny Yurich, a homeschooling mother of five and the founder of  1000 Hours Outside-  a global movement reclaiming childhood and fostering family connections through nature-based play. Alongside her husband, Josh, Ginny is the brilliant mind behind the 1000 Hours Outside lifestyle brand...

Oh MAN, you are in for a treat this week! I have not one, but two incredible guests joining me: Randy Frazee and Gisela Kreglinger. Randy is the lead teaching pastor at Westside Family Church in Kansas City and a visionary in Bible engagement, spiritual formation, and building biblical community. He's the architect behind The Story and Believe church engagement campaigns and the author of books li...

Hey, friend! Today, we're talking about something that has been on my heart a lot lately- the power of small wins and why they actually matter more than we realize. We live in a world that constantly celebrates the big, flashy milestones- the promotions, the six-figure businesses, the book deals, the dream homes. And those things are great! But what about the small victories? The little moments of...

This week, I'm joined by Amy Senter, a former teacher and artist with a passion for making the Bible accessible to everyone. After struggling to understand Scripture herself, Amy used her background in education and art to create tools that simplify Bible study for all ages and learning styles. Her popular Books of the Bible cheat sheets, designed with visual learners and those with ADHD or dyslex...

Today, we're doing something a little different! For the first time ever on the show, I'm sharing a sermon I preached at my church over a year ago. Now, before you think, Oh no, a sermon?- stick with me. Over the last couple of years, I've received countless messages from listeners who are feeling isolated, lonely, and disconnected. And I think this message is incredibly timely. The loneliness epi...

This week, I'm thrilled to welcome my friend, Cassandra "Cass" Speer, to the show! Cass is a bestselling author, Bible teacher, and the host of the Hard and Holy podcast. She also serves as the Vice President of Her True Worth, a global ministry dedicated to helping women find their identity and validation in Christ alone, which touches millions worldwide. Cass has a passion for offering hope and...

This week, I'm joined by the lovely Tabitha Panariso. She is a licensed professional counselor, writer, speaker, and theologian, who brings counseling into the everyday fabric of life. She's also the author of Loyal in His Love: An Invitation to Be Held by Jesus When Others Let You Go. At the heart of Tabitha's work is a commitment to creating space for life's toughest moments and guiding others t...

You are in for a treat this week! We are back with my good friend Tyler Merritt today, who has been on the show before. Tyler is a Nashville-based actor, author, musician, activist, cancer survivor, and founder of The Tyler Merritt Project. He's appeared in shows like Netflix's Outer Banks, Marvel's Falcon and the Winter Soldier, and NBC's Young Rock. Tyler is also the author of the bestselling me...

Happy New Year! I'm SO excited to be back with you all and to kick off the year by welcoming back an incredible returning guest, Ian Morgan Cron . If you haven't had a chance to catch his previous episode, you might recognize him as the author of The Road Back to You, or as the host of the popular Typology podcast.     Ian is a psychotherapist, an Enneagram teacher, an Episcopal priest and the aut...

I'm so excited to welcome back Anthony O'Neal to the show! He is the national bestselling author of Debt-Free Degree, a personal finance expert, and host of the wildly popular podcast and YouTube show, The Table with Anthony O'Neal, which has garnered millions of downloads.  For over a decade, Anthony has been challenging cultural norms, empowering individuals to live debt-free lives, break genera...

This week, I'm joined by the incredible Tori Hope Petersen. She is an author, speaker, Bible teacher and fierce advocate for foster care, adoption, and vulnerable children. Raised in and out of the foster care system herself, she has dedicated her life to sharing her testimony and offering hope to others. Tori is also a wife, mom, and lover of people, with a deep appreciation for cooking, family,...

My guest this week is the amazing Ashley Jameson. She is the Associate Director of Pure Desire Ministries- a ministry dedicated to equipping individuals and churches with the tools to heal from the impacts of sexual brokenness, addiction, and betrayal. She and her husband, John, discovered Pure Desire during one of the most challenging seasons of their marriage, battling the devastation caused by...

Today, I wanted to talk about something that's been on my heart lately: gratitude. With Thanksgiving right around the corner, my family and I started a new tradition this year-a gratitude wall in our living room. Every day, we write down things we're thankful for, and it's sparked some really meaningful conversations with our kids about seeing God's blessings in our lives. Gratitude has the power...

I am thrilled to be joined by the amazing and talented Shana Wilson Williams and Melinda Watts in today's episode. Shana is a pastor's daughter, worship leader and songwriter from Detroit. Melinda is a family lifestyle travel creator, speaker, and worship leader from Atlanta.   These two incredible women have come alongside other talented artists to create the album, Return To Love, which calls th...

Welcome to episode 420! Today, it's just me, and I'm tackling one of the most frequently asked questions I've received since the release of my first book, If I Don't Laugh, I'll Cry. And that is… "How do I get a book published?" A recent study showed that more than 80% of Americans dream of writing and publishing a book. So, in today's conversation, I'm going to walk you through the basics of book...

I'm thrilled to welcome my dear friend, Mattie Jackson, back to the show! You may remember her from earlier this year, and I was so inspired by our chat that I had to invite her back- especially with the release of her new book, Through the Valley of Grief.  Mattie is an author, podcaster, and speaker whose life changed dramatically when she tragically lost her 28-year-old husband to a traumatic b...